The Three Angle s Message of Revelations

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "The Three Angle s Message of Revelations"

Neal Lang
5 years ago
Views:

The Three Angle s Message of Revelations As Christ believers came to understand the Third Angel s Message in Revelation 14, the rest of Revelation s prophecies began to become clearer as well, the

1 The Three Angle s Message of Revelations As Christ believers came to understand the Third Angel s Message in Revelation 14, the rest of Revelation s prophecies began to become clearer as well, the prophecy of Revelation 10, in particular, being associated with the unfolding of the Third Angel s Message and the experience of the believers. It gives another picture of God s last message to the world. A mighty angel has a little book open in his hand in Revelation 10: And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. These verses indicate that a book, or prophecy, once sealed has now become opened or unsealed. According to Revelation, this passage is referring to a prophecy in Daniel. The message symbolized by this angel unsealed the book to permit the study of its message. So what book could that be? There is only one answer, for as it is recorded, the only Scripture closed or sealed was a portion of the book of Daniel. This passage is referring to Daniel s instructions to shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end (Daniel 12:4). The 2300-day prophecy of Daniel 8 fits this description as a sealed prophecy that would be opened at the time of the end. As we know, the time of the end began after which the Millerite movement began to proclaim their newfound understanding of Daniel 8 and the First Angel s Message of Revelation 14. No prophetic time is given in Scripture after the 2300-day prophecy. The statement by the angel in Revelation 10:6 that there should be time no longer can be seen as a reference to the prophecy of Daniel, which brings us to the end of prophetic time. In Revelation 10:9 John is also given the instruction to eat the scroll. It is sweet in his mouth but turns bitter in his stomach. To eat the scroll is to internalize it, to make it one s own, and understand it. Jeremiah 15:16... Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. The sweetness was a joyful expectation that the understanding of the Word was obtain, but the bitterness reflects a disappointing experienced of the wrong application. The early believers had expected the return of Christ, but He had not come. They thought that the last message of warning had been given; but it had not. In Revelation 10:11, the instruction is given to prophesy again..., You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings (NKJV). The word again is of great significance here. The early believers thought they were finished prophesying, but they had to prophecy again. And this time, the message to be prophesied again was to reach all the nations of the world. 1

2 So then, what was the all-important message that God wanted proclaimed to the entire world? It was the Three Angels Messages recorded in Revelation 14, where the instruction is given once again that the message must go to all peoples on the face of the earth. At the right time, God raised up a remnant from all denominations to preach the Gospel in its fullness to the whole world. This is the remnant that the Dragon would persecute at the end of time, Revelation 12:17... And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Who is this remnant? The Three Angle s Messages of Revelations 14 tells us of three important messages to the world. John s vision here is not symbolic of three literal angels who come and proclaim these messages to the world, but rather, it refers to God s people, His ambassadors, who proclaim these truths. The Three Angels Messages are the final messages of warning to the world. These messages ensure that everyone has had a chance to choose between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Earth; Satan s kingdom. When the messages have reached everyone, the time of probation will close and Christ will return to free His people. The Great War between Christ and Satan reaches its climax as these messages are preached, and the people of the world will be split into two groups... the followers of Christ and the followers of Satan. The contest will be fierce and there will be a time of the worst trouble, to ever happen. (Daniel 12:1) Throughout the book of Revelation, the two great camps are contrasted. Satan tries his best to counterfeit the plan of salvation, in order to deceive God s chosen people. (Matthew 24:24) Revelation tells of a Beast power, which we see to be Roman Catholicism, which Satan uses to counterfeit the ministry of Christ. He even sets up a false trinity to lead the world astray. Only the true Prince of this world, Jesus Christ, can save us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness... Revelation 1:5... And from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood. When Christ returns, the false prince, Satan, will be judged and cast out. (John 16:11) The battle and the stark differences between the two sides is a theme in the book of Revelation. The First Angel s Message was to remind God s people to fear God and worship Him as Creator, because the judgment is coming. This was the message proclaimed by the early Christian movement. The First Angel s Message is not only a message of judgment, but also a message of the restoration of all things. It is the Elijah message, the final reformation that would separate the remnant of spiritual Israel from the world, and prepare a people for the coming of the Lord. 2

3 Revelation 14:6-7 NKJV... Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water This angel spreads the everlasting Gospel to every nation. We see this as God using His people to be coworkers together with Him in the spreading of the Gospel around the world. This First Angel s Message has three central themes... The everlasting Gospel is the great theme of salvation, we are saved by the blood of the Lamb. This Gospel has never changed. Adam and Eve were taught the lesson of salvation by grace when God covered their nakedness with the pelt of a sheep to symbolize the righteousness of Christ which would cover them. Abel offered a lamb as sacrifice because he understood that salvation was to be found outside of himself in the merits of the Lamb that was to be slain for the sins of the world. Cain, however, sought favor through the works of his hands and his offering was not acceptable to God. The great divide between salvation by grace and salvation by works was established from the very beginning. Abraham understood the significance of the Lamb when God demonstrated the plan of salvation in miniature form through Abraham s own son, Isaac. Isaac was a symbol of God s Son who was to be offered. But in Isaac s stead God provided His own lamb, a ram, a symbol of Jesus who would die for the sins of the world. The Jews were taught the plan of salvation through the ceremonial law, and the same principles still apply today... our salvation lies in the Lamb that was slain. The Gospel has never changed, but Satan perverts the Gospel to suit his ends. The Second Angel s Message tells us the fate of Babylon in Revelation 14:8. And another angel followed, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication (NKJV). Ancient Babylon was opposed to Israel. Babylon enticed Jerusalem into paganism and idolatry. Babylon eventually took the whole nation of Israel captive, and only a small remnant returned to rebuild the ancient ruins. God pronounced judgment on ancient Babylon... Babylon was a golden cup in the LORD s hand that made all the earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; therefore the nations are deranged. Babylon has suddenly fallen and been destroyed. Wail for her! Take balm for her pain; perhaps she may be healed. We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed. Forsake her, and let us go everyone to his own country; for her judgment reaches to heaven and is lifted up to the skies. (Jeremiah 51:7-9 NKJV) 3

In similar fashion, antitypical Babylon, the confederacy of religious powers that opposes God at the end of time, will lead people astray and take them captive through her numerous false doctrines.

And, the same call given in Jeremiah 51:6 and 9 to come out of Babylon is given in Revelation 18:1-5.

4 In similar fashion, antitypical Babylon, the confederacy of religious powers that opposes God at the end of time, will lead people astray and take them captive through her numerous false doctrines. The same judgment pronounced in Jeremiah 51:8 on ancient Babylon is also given to end-time Babylon in Revelation 14:8. And, the same call given in Jeremiah 51:6 and 9 to come out of Babylon is given in Revelation 18: After these things, I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury. And I heard another voice from heaven saying, Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities (NKJV). The Second Angel announces the fall of Babylon, but the loud call to come out of her my people is made later. God s people are thus still in Babylon. Thus it is Babylon s system of religious structures aligned against God that is condemned... not the individuals. There are two calls to come out of Babylon. Just as Jesus began and ended His ministry on Earth by cleansing the temple, so there are two calls to the churches at the end of time. The first of these calls was made at the beginning of the movement around 1844 after the fulfillment of 2300-day prophecy of Daniel 8, and was confined largely to America, whereas the final call will be worldwide and climax in the loud cry just prior to the close of probation. This experience will be accompanied by the outpouring of the Latter Rain. The Third Angel s Message is the most fearful message ever given to the world. Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice... If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. (Revelation 14:9-12 NKJV) Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep these commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. It was only after the Great Disappointment of 1844 that the message of the Third Angel began to be understood. 4

5 The Third Angel s Message is the final message of warning to the world. It is filled with power and deep spiritual truths. As its significance came to be understood, the symbolism of the entire book of Revelation was unfolded. The Message warns against the worship of the Beast or its image. Accepting the authority of the counterfeit religious system instead of God s authority is the same as worshiping the Beast system rather than God. As the Beast obtains his authority from the Dragon, Revelation 13:2, acknowledgment of that authority is worship of the Dragon, Satan himself. (Revelation 13:4) Therefore they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him? To worship the counterfeit system, one must not only accept its authority but follow its principles. For example, end-time Babylon teaches that in order to follow Christ, all are required to worship the beast. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. (Matthew 24:38-39 NKJV) Ezekiel 22:26... Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have put no difference between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Those that are in Christ, on the other hand, will align themselves with the principles of Christ. (Romans 12:1-2) They will strive for holiness and stay away from things that separate them from Christ... 2 Corinthians 6:14-15, 17-18; 7:1... Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what concord has Christ with Belial? Wherefore, Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God The whole lifestyle of believers in Christ must reflect this relationship. Babylon is in enmity with God, and teaches a doctrine of compromise, but compromise with sin is impossible. It is a Message of separation from Babylon and its principles. The Third Angel s Message puts our relationship with Christ in its right perspective. It is a message that brings about lifestyle changes necessary for those who want to stand in the presence of a holy God. Separating from the world does not mean retiring to a solitary confinement. We are to labor in the world as Christ labored, but we are not to be trapped by the ways of the world. 5

6 It will take courage for us to stand for truth, but we know that Christ has overcome the world. The Bible tells us the consequences of following Babylon... Revelation 14:10... The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. When Revelations says poured out without mixture it means not watered down. This wrath of God will contain no mercy or grace... Anyone who rejected Moses law died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay says the Lord. And again, The Lord will judge His people. It is a fearful things to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:28-31 NKJV). In ancient Israel, the enemies of God were to be totally destroyed. (Deuteronomy 7:2; 20:16-18) The false prophets that led Israel astray were to be executed without mercy. (Deuteronomy 13:7-10) This typology is applicable also to the enemy of God in the last days. But to those who are selfseeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek; for there is no partiality with God. (Romans 2:8-11 NKJV) We can see the Third Angel s Message coming to fruition today. Spiritualism is making inroads into the Christian Church, the Papacy is making stealthy but rapid progress towards global control, and the observances of the Catholic Church are being enforced by civil authority. It is crucial that God s people cling to the truth and do not become overtaken by these happenings. God s people need not fear the judgment in this Message. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4:18-19 NIV) We are headed for perilous times, a time such as never was. But be encouraged... Romans 8: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. In Scripture, those who accept the mark of the Beast are set in sharp contrast with those that receive the seal of God. In Revelation 7, John sees the 144,000 who receive the seal of God. These 144,000 have a number of identifying characteristics, given in Revelation 14:1... They have the name of the Lamb and His Father written on their foreheads. The name stands for their character. They have a share in the nature and character of God. 6

7 They are redeemed from the earth. (Revelation 14:3) They stand in sharp contrast to those who receive the mark of the Beast... they are a called out people. They have not defiled themselves with women, and they are chaste virgins. (Revelation 14:4) They refuse to be defiled by women, which mean that they refuse to become involved with idolatrous practices. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. (Revelation 14:4) They remain faithful to Jesus. There is no lie found in their mouths and they are blameless. (Revelation 14:5) Their character has been investigated, and they have been found justified. We should be holy and without blame before Him. (Ephesians 1:4, Philippians 2:15, Colossians 1:22, 2 Peter 3:11) This is not a message of legalism or perfectionism, since without Jesus we can do nothing... It is recognition of the power of Christ. Christ depicts His bride dressed in spotless white, covered with the righteousness of Christ. We should never dare to utter I am sinless, but Christ can write that very truth in His book, because His forgiveness not only removes the stain of sin, but also the record of sin. In the book of Leviticus we read that priests were only permitted to marry virgins, a type of Christ and His bride. The priests were not even permitted to marry chaste widows, because they had previous relationships. Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, all of us fall into the category of having had previous relationships with evil. To fulfill the requirements of the typology, the forgiveness of God has to be so complete that not even the record of the previous unfaithfulness of God s people will remain. Only then can they qualify as the chaste virgin, pure and undefiled. All the honor and glory belong to God. This leaves no room for legalism or salvation by works. There is nothing we can do to earn forgiveness. We cannot receive a more emphatic warning than the one we find in the Third Angel s Message. God wants everyone to know the result of following the Deceiver s rationale. God wants everyone to choose Him and His grace. 7

CHRIST S LAST REMNANT

Lesson 29, CHRIST S LAST REMNANT 1 CHRIST S LAST REMNANT In our last three studies we have focused our attention on the messages of three mighty angels (Revelation 14:6-12) who invite and warn, clearly